An Elegant Black-Tie Wedding in Washington, D.C. Featured on Martha Stewart Weddings

Photography by Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu

“Ashley and Jon met in March 2018 on Hinge, but they actually started their relationship cross-continentally before meeting in person. “Jon was traveling for work overseas, so we spent the first couple of weeks texting with an eight-hour time difference,” Ashley says. “When he got back to the States, we had an epic all-night phone conversation and went on our first date a couple days later.” The rest, as they say, is history.
And on January 19, 2019, in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, they took the next step—Jon asked Ashley to marry him in a place that held special meaning to the bride’s family. “I knew that Ashley’s parents’ first home in 1980 was in Old Town off St. Asaph Street (this would also later play into the name for one of our signature cocktails),” Jon shares. “Being a sucker for sentimentality, I thought it would be a nice way to begin our lives together—at the place where her parents had done the same.” Their literal trip down memory lane involved some pretty heavy rain—but the downpour didn’t stop Jon from getting on one knee to ask Ashley to be his wife.
Wedding planning was smooth sailing after they agreed on their vision, which, they say, always revolved around a winter wedding. Both originally from the Northeast, the cold-weather loving duo opted for a February 22, 2020, date, which turned out to be uncharacteristically warm (it was 60 degrees and sunny!); the Holy Trinity Catholic Church served as their ceremony site and the Perry Belmont House held their reception. Ashley and Jon also had a Parisian theme in mind to transport their guests from the Washington, D.C., locale to an intimate destination dinner party in the City of Lights. “I lived in Paris for several years in my teens,” Ashley explains. “We wanted our family and friends to have a supremely perfect evening—and to be transported to another time through the Perry Belmont’s décor, eat amazing food, and dance under the skylight in the ballroom.” – Martha Stewart Weddings
The suite we created featured a cream invitation, gold foil print, a sage green velvet backing, and a monogram printed in gold foil. The finishing touch? A custom envelope design inspired by the reception venue’s oil paintings of botanical scenes with exotic birds.

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Planning and Design – Lauryn Prattes with Lauryn Prattes Styling and Events 
Photography – Lisa Ziesing, Abby Jiu Photography
Florals – Floral and Bloom
Catering – Occasions Catering
Venue – Perry Belmont House 
Paper – Emily Baird Design, Sugared Fig Paprie 
Calligraphy – Laura Hooper Calligraphy 
Dress – Carine’s Bridal, Monique Lhuillier Bride 
Rentals – Maison de Carine, Nuage, White Glove Rental, Nostalgia Event Rental
Beauty – Beauty n the Bride 
Cake – Buttercream Bakeshop 
Entertainment – Kushner Entertainment